

Notes and queries. 301 



subject — of that sweet and ever vernal philosopher of nature 

 whom Lord Selborne so well described. What shall it be, when, 

 and where ? 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Protection of Kangaroos.— A year or two ago I furnished a note on 

 the threatened extinction of the Kangaroo. A committee of local naturalists 

 worked hard to prevent this, and finally, after encountering a good deal 

 of opposition, succeeded iu securing the appointment of a close season 

 extending from November 1st to April 30th. These are our summer 

 months, during which time skins are of little commercial value, as they 

 become sunburnt while drying. We have also secured the insertion of a 

 clause in the Act providing for the proclamation of districts within which 

 Kangaroos are to be protected for any period. By means of this clause we 

 have obtained the proclamation of Kangaroo Island, a large island off the 

 mainland, and part of our western coast near the great Australian Bight. 

 The importance of the matter is now being recognised in Victoria and New 

 South Wales, and possibly Kangaroos will be protected in due course 

 throughout all the Australian colonies. It is but fair to mention that in 

 this work we have had the hearty co-operation of American tanners and 

 local exporters of skins. — A. F. Robins (Adelaide, S. Australia). 



Food of the Squirrel. — Amongst the food-stuffs of the Squirrel may be 

 reckoned wall-fruit, such as apricots. In this district I have heard them 

 accused of stealing the latter, but was somewhat sceptical until the other day, 

 when I caught a Squirrel in the very act — red-handed — taking an apricot 

 from the garden- wall. On two sides of the garden there are oaks, and in one 

 place the branches overhang and touch the wall ; the Squirrels use this as 

 a bridge. They prefer apricots which are somewhat hard and not such as 

 are fully ripe. Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown (' The Squirrel in Great Britain,' 

 p. 178), on the authority of Captain Dunbar-Brander, includes kernels of 

 apricots amongst their food ; but it is not the kernel they are after, but the 

 fruit, or pulp, as I can testify by having watched one, through a glass, 

 holding the fruit between his paws and deliberately devouring the pulp till 

 all was finished ; the kernel was then dropped to the ground, and I forward 

 two for the Editor's inspection to show that they are not even guawed. 

 I think I have succeeded in stopping the marauders (without resorting to 

 extremities), by cutting away the boughs of the oaks where they touch the 

 wall.— J. Cordeaux (Eaton Hall, Retford). [The apricot-stones forwarded 

 completely justify our correspondent's remarks. — Ed.] 



